3DMark Vantage Benchmark Tests

3DMark Vantage is a computer benchmark by Futuremark (formerly named Mad Onion) to determine the DirectX 10 performance of 3D game performance with graphics cards. A 3DMark score is an overall measure of your system's 3D gaming capabilities, based on comprehensive real-time 3D graphics and processor tests. By comparing your score with those submitted by millions of other gamers you can see how your gaming rig performs, making it easier to choose the most effective upgrades or finding other ways to optimize your system.

There are two graphics tests in 3DMark Vantage: Jane Nash (Graphics Test 1) and New Calico (Graphics Test 2). The Jane Nash test scene represents a large indoor game scene with complex character rigs, physical GPU simulations, multiple dynamic lights, and complex surface lighting models. It uses several hierarchical rendering steps, including for water reflection and refraction, and physics simulation collision map rendering. The New Calico test scene represents a vast space scene with lots of moving but rigid objects and special content like a huge planet and a dense asteroid belt.

At Benchmark Reviews, we believe that synthetic benchmark tools are just as valuable as video games, but only so long as you're comparing apples to apples. Since the same test is applied in the same controlled method with each test run, 3DMark is a reliable tool for comparing graphic cards against one-another.

Since 3DMark Vantage is tough for even high-end graphics solutions, we have kept things at the lowest level for the Graphics tests here. Using the common resolution of 1280x1024, the minimum settings were applied to 3DMark Vantage include no Anti-Aliasing, no Anisotropic Filtering, all quality levels at Entry Level, and Post Processing Scale at 1:2.

UPDATE: To clarify, all Post Processing effects were enabled during these tests. Entry Level Presets put the resolution at 1024x768, which isn't a realistic gaming resolution these days. Entry level presets were not used but all quality levels were set to Entry Level. When set to Entry Level Presets (three of the post processing effects disabled) and 1280x1024, the Intel HD Graphics achieved 17.84 FPS in the Nash test and 17.26 FPS in the New Calico test. The integers between the cards stayed about the same, with the GT430 reaching 33.36 FPS in the Nash test and 33.99 FPS in the New Calico test at Entry Level Presets.

The numbers in the charts below have changed slightly as well. When installing the drivers for the Intel HD Graphics, three programs will be installed and will want to startup with Windows. Since I normally disable all startup programs for testing in order to preserve resources for the hardware, I had those three programs disabled. When I allowed them to run in the background during the testing, the results were about 1 FPS higher for the 3DMark Vantage tests.

The Jane Nash test shows the Intel HD Graphics solution lagging far behind, with the Radeon HD4290 outperforming it by almost double. When adding an inexpensive discrete graphics card, the GT 430, the frame rates over the Intel HD Graphics are almost tripled.

The New Calico test shows a very similar story. Once again, the new generation of Intel HD Graphics has its performance nearly doubled by the now aging Radeon HD 4290, the onboard graphics solution of the AMD 890GX Chipset. Going one step further and adding a low-end discrete GPU will get you almost 3x the performance in our 3DMark Vantage test suite.

In this context, b = bits and B = bytes. "4 Gb memory technology" in the specs refers to the maximum supported size of DRAM chips on the DIMMs, 4 gigabits in this case. The number and size of DRAM chips on a DIMM determines its total size. An 8 gigabyte DIMM could be made up of 1Gb, 2Gb, or 4Gb DRAMs depending on the data width of the DRAMs (4 bits or 8 bits) and the number of "ranks" on the DIMM. I don't think 4Gb DRAMs are very common yet, but this board will support them if you buy DIMMs that use them.

I'm planning on building a low power HTPC around this board and an i5-2500T. I was amazed that with even with a 2500K it draws only 115 Watts fully loaded.

So the question becomes: what would be the perfect power supply for my low-power HTPC system, taking into consideration I'll have no PCIE video card, a PCI TV tuner, a blu-ray drive and a single 2 Tb SATA drive?

This motherboard will support up to 1333 MHz DDR3 memory with no additional settings needed, or 1600+ by changing settings in the BIOS to 'overclock' the memory. No Intel motherboard exists yet that supports 1600 MHz or faster RAM without overclocking.

Hi Hank. I'm just trying an ASUS H67 motherboard and there's a real simple way to monitor iGPU frequencies. Just use CPU-Z 1.56.2 and check the GPU tab. Since I'm using a Core i7 2600K my idle freq. is 850MHz while it goes up to 1350MHz when I put some load. I managed to OC it to 1650MHz and received a nice 22% OC.

As for tests, I checked it with SF IV Benchmark and the turbo went to 1650MHz all the time giving a 14% extra performance. You might want to give it a new shot.

Question? DG965RY Intel mobo, 450W PS, wanting to upgrade processor for w-7, to Quad-core, and jack the Ram to 12Gb. Gaming being the driving force. Was told that the mobo will only do 95 watt processor, and that Quads require 105W. Is that a power load, or is it generated heat? Cant afford to make a costly mistake, and it may be better to gt MOBO/CPU bundle. What say Ye?p.s.: You sure that mbo can deliver HD graphics? 1080 or 720? If no video card needed, theen it would save 200USD

Thanks for the reply, Perhaps, I was not clear on my inquiry. Is there any quad-core 775 socket processor that will run at 95W or less, as this appears to be the stated limit of DG965RY. I was told all QUAD core CPU run at 105W.I am aware of the info you sent re:64bits OS, but am thinking the added RAM should allow for better performance. Took out the Creative cound card and got some boost in performance, and it cleared up the crashing, while giving me better snd quality on the in-board chip, but the video chips will not drive/show Everquest on my Samsung 120hrz monitor.Thanks for the reply

Your power supply and motherboard should be fine, regardless of CPU power rating. The difference isn't enough to warrant a new PSU, and there's probably a BIOS update for your motherboard to ensure smooth stability.

If you're expecting better game performance by adding memory, you might want to do more research. Too much memory is actually a bad thing, since data must strobe through the entire series before reporting to the processor. So if your system only ever utilizes 2-3GB of RAM, then 4GB is fine. 12GB would just be a waste of money, and come with a latency penalty.

I recently purchased this MB, I know it was recalled, will get the new version after the OEM receives the new MB. However, at first I was having trouble starting the system up, so I booted it via safe mode. Disabling the integrated graphics card solved it and I can use my computer completely just as long as I don't enable the Graphics driver. Does anyone know what my problem could be?? Also is it possible for me to make changes to the display settings of said device without having it enabled? Thanks in advance for anyone who might be able to help out. My system specs:

Yes this problem seems to be popping up more frequently. I tried upgrading my PSU like they told me over at Intel's slow paced chat support line.. to no avail. I tried what Olin Coles said, about 5 or more times, always get the same error (or blue screen) once the graphics driver is installed. Eventually I got fed up of it all, and got a cheap graphics card (Radeon HD 4850 for $80 @ amazon.) It's ok for gaming, but I'm literally using it instead of the integrated video as I game on console, not PC. Also for the RMA I just went with a Gigabyte P67, I kind of lost my faith in this motherboard due to lack of support/solutions.

I have had a system built for me in Dubai. Motherboard is DH67BL, 16GB RAM, 2x2TB HDD, 2GB ATI Radeon graphics card, GIGABYTE ODIN power supply. Problem is when system is switched on for about 2 hours and needed to re-start it will say " invalid partition or boot failure". But when left alone for about an hour, it works again. Is my HDD too big for the board or what is wrong? My processor is i7-2600.

I am trying to find out if either the I-3 2100 or I-5 2500k would make a better back end linux media sever (Mythbox) for low power usage. It will have 2 tv cards SSHD 2TBb hard drives and will be running 24/7. I want to use the onboard graphics to do HD streaming to the front ends throughout the house.

Perfectly worked my LED monitor (Philips SyncMaster BX2031 support optimum resolution 1600*900) using onboard VGA without any problem. DVI to VGA converter used (MB Bios verion was BLH6710H.86A.0076). But i updated the bios to newest (BLH6710H.86A.0122). Then my monitor shows maximum resolution 1440*900 even i changed to the resolution 1600*900. I updated all drivers. But the problem is still there.

I too am having system crashes with the DH67BL (2600k, 4g mem,Crucial c300 ssd, 2tb stockage drive). Typical use is internet intensive with for ex. emule,an hd video stream and an audio stream. For most streams to play smoothly I need to throttle emule (no prob there). The nasty part is that about every 8 hrs there's a system crash, sometimes with blue screen, usually without. The source seems to be due to the onboard graphics (drivers igfxpers.exe and igfxtray.exe). When I get a blue screen the message is always (paraphrasing, sorry : ) 'some processor timed out waiting for a signal from another processor'. All I can tell about the non blue screen crashes is that for some reason the graphics hardware and software somehow gets blocked up. Has anyone seen this? Also, how to know if i've got unrecalled i7 2600k and unrecalled DH67BL? Has anyone tried fixing this by installing a dedicated graphics card?

I have got a Desktop PC configured with MB - Intel DH67BL & Processor - i3 2100. The Monitor connected is 'SA300 Series 20 LED Monitor' which has a VGA port only. Since the MB has DVI and HDMI ports only, have used a DVI-VGA adaptor to connect to the MB. I'm now facing blue screen error, when connecting to chat using Yahoo Messenger video call. The issue occurs when receiving a connection also. Is this the problem of adapter that I'm using or any other issues. Please Help.

Hi.I have Intel DH67BL.Before some days I noticed collapse in my keyboard and midi controller.They are USB powered .My PSU is 400W Fortron.The problem occurs when my air conditioner works and in some state of work keyboard is out of use for 1-2 seconds, the light on it is blinking several times in this moment.There are some pops in the sound monitors and midi controller goes out of connection with Cubase.I try all electricity circles in my apartment and the situation stays same.When my air conditioner works ,pops in the sound, keyboard outs for seconds and midi controller out of use in Cubase and other VST instruments.When air conditioner does not work all is fine.Can you give me some solution of this situation.I can't stay without conditioner in cold days and I can't use PC properly. I forget to say that all my PC equipment are connected to UPS(PC, monitor, sound monitors and all connected to PC devices).

i m having trouble with my SATA ports firs they worked fine when all of the sudden two ports stopped working when i left the pc on overnight for torrent download now i have such a bad data transfer rate that the sound in video plays glichy ..and my processor get constantly used up to about 40-50 percent with nothing runnig (i5 2300 2.8 ghz) .... plz help

Double check the system. 1) Remove all the components and wires connected to the motherboard and remove it from casing.2) Check the processor, memory and power contacts (motherboard socket also). Contact may closed with some stickers or it may damaged.3) If no problem with contacts, connect only Memory,Processor and the power supply unit. Keep motherboard outside the casing (Be careful to avoid short circuit. Assemble on some thing like telephone dictionary) and connect mains and power on the motherboard. 4) If alarm continues, i think you should go for the claim warranty..

I had a DH67GD, and the product guide (downloadable from #intel.com, search for 'dh67bl product guide') has the beep codes explained in Appendix A. I would guess that most likely BIOS is not able to detect/configure memory for some reason. Either one of the DIMMs is not making good contact, they are not compatible with the CPU (which would surprise me), or maybe they are not installed in the right slots. Make sure your DIMMs are in the blue slots!

Beyond that, I agree with Mindu's advice. Another option would be trying to reset BIOS to default settings (remove the CMOS battery for about 30 seconds) or attempting to update BIOS through the recovery method (see "Recovering the BIOS" in the product guide).